The Suzanne and Charles Wells Choral Scholarship

The Suzanne and Charles Wells Choral Scholarship The Handel Week family is delighted to announce that Norah Lougachi is the Charles and Sue Wells Choral Scholar for the 2025 Festival Season! Here is a little about her:

Norah Lougachi is a 17-year-old soprano and a senior at Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois. Norah's opera experience began in the Summer of 2022 when she performed as part of the ensemble in an opera called “Future Perfect,” which included present and former members of Chicago's Lyric Opera. She has been playing piano since the age of four and has learned all seven Suzuki piano books and more than 100 classical piano pieces. In the Summer of 2023, Norah auditioned for and was selected to attend the Young Artists Vocal Program at Boston University's Tanglewood Institute (BUTI). While at BUTI, Norah worked with present and former opera professionals. The highlight of her time at BUTI was performing as part of a choir with the Boston Pops and conductor John Williams to a sold-out audience at the Tanglewood Shed. By invitation, Norah attended the Young Artists Vocal Program at BUTI in the Summer of 2024. She was also a student ambassador for BUTI's program. While at BUTI, Norah took classes in Italian diction, music theory and vocal literature. She performed twice with BUTI's choir at Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood. Norah's first year solo at BUTI was Lascia ch'io pianga by Handel, and she sang the Sandman's Aria from Hansel and Gretel in an opera scene performance. Her second-year solo at BUTI was Hai luli by Pauline Viardot, and she played the Countess and sang Sull'aria from Le Nozze di Figaro for her opera scene. Norah has performed extensively with six different choirs at her high school. Norah is also a member of a professional all-girls treble choir outside of her high school called Spirito Singers, Bravura Ensemble (Bravura). She has performed with Bravura in the Joffrey Ballet's Nutcracker, and in numerous events featuring Chicago-based choirs. In the Spring of 2024, Norah traveled with Bravura and performed in France at the American Cemetery in Normandy, La Madeline Church in Paris and Château Royal de Blois in the Loire Valley. Norah was a featured soloist at all three locations. In the Spring of 2024, Norah competed in the Unity Temple Vocal Competition in Oak Park, Illinois. She sang Lascia ch'io pianga by Handel, and Love's Philosophy by Quilter. She was a competition winner. In the Fall of 2024, Norah competed in the Suzanne and Charles Wells Choral Scholarship Competition. She sang Và godendo by Handel. She won the competition. Norah was a semi-finalist in Butler University's 2023 Vocal Competition. Norah participates in service opportunities where she has been inspired to give back to the community through service-based projects. She has consistently been an Honor Roll and Dean's List student. Her favorite subject is French, which she has been studying for 7 years, and she is working to become fluent in the language. She was recently inducted into the French Honor Society. She loves all things French, especially the culture and buttery croissants.

Under the direction of Dr. Dennis Northway, the recipient of the Wells Choral Scholarship will get an insider's perspective on the life of a professional musician, joining the critically acclaimed Handel Week ensemble for rehearsals and the performance of a single masterwork by George Frideric Handel during the Handel Week Festival. "This scholarship is a fantastic way both to express our gratitude to one of our organization's founders and to recognize the talented young musicians in our community who are the future of classical music," said Northway. The Handel Week Festival is committed to the nuturing of young classical music vocalists.

To be eligible for the scholarship competition, candidates must be in their sophomore, junior or senior year in high school, recommended by their choral director, music teacher or another professional musician and be in good academic standing. Candidates should have also basic musical skills, such as the ability to sightread, and have some experience in choral singing. Further information will be provided prior to the audition.

Scholarship rules and application form are available here.

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